Frank abbott



(No Model.)

F. ABBOTT.

DENTAL PLUGGBR.' No. 257,264. Patented May 2,1882.l

. 1 In .l 0

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK ABBOTT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE S. S. NHITE` DENTAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PA.

DENTAL PLUGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,264, dated May 2, 1882.

Application led March 21, 1882. (No model.)

in Dentists Pluggers, of which the following' is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of instruments used by dentists, more especially for -compacting or condensing gold. and other fill-y ings into the cavities of natural teeth while in the mouth, commonly known as dentists iiluggem and my Sad ilwention @pertains more particularly to the type of such pluggers known as hand-pluggers, in which a blow is given upon the tool-holder which carries the operating tool or point by means of a hammer raised by pressing the tool or point against the filling or spot to receive the blow.

The object of my invention is to improve the construction and organization of den tists pluggers in order to simplify them, to enable the hammer to give a freer blow than has heretofore been practicable, and to avoid rattling and noise in working the instrument, which, as incidental to the use of handpluggers of the class to which mine belongs, has heretofore been annoying alike to patient and operator.

The subjectmatter claimed is particularly pointed out at the close of the specification.

In the accompanying drawings, which show my improvements as organized iu thebest way now known to me, Figure l is a longitudinal seetionthrough my improved plugger. Fig. 2 is an external View ofthe upper end ot' said plu gger. Fig. 3 isa transverse section through said plugger on the line 33 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a similar section on the line et 4. of said Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper end of the improved` plugger, showing a form of impelling-spring 'for the hammer of the instrument differing from that shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

The casing A is preferably tubular in form to .contain the working parts, as usual, and is com posed, .in this instance, of two sectionsto wit, a handle-section, a, and a nose or toolholder section, a. The tool-holder B is tted in the nosesection a of the 'casin g, so as to move endwise therein, and extends through said section. The inner inclosed end ot said tool-holder B is titted to receive the blows of a reciprocating hammer, C, while its outer end is provided with a socket, preferablya screwthreaded socket, as usual, for the reception of the Shanks of the operating tools or points B', used with the instrument, of which there are several different forms for doing work of different kind or impacting fillings ot' different character or in dierent locations inthe teeth, said tools or operating-points B' being readily interchangeable in the holder B by being threaded to titthe tool-holder socket.

A spiral sprin g, b, surrounds the tool-holder B, and is contined between an annular shoulder, b', on said holder, and a similar shoulder, b2, form ed in this example byinscrting arin g in the upper end of the nose-section a ofthe casingandsecuringitrmlyin placebyaset-serew, a?, which screw also serves the purpose, in this example, ot' uniting the two casing-sections c c rmly together. Said screw a2 is also extended, so that its end enters a longitudinal its farthest extent. Thefunction of said spring will' be further alluded to iu the description of the operation of the instrument. The'inner end of the tool-holder B, as before stated, re-

ceives the blows of the hammer C, the said end of said holder being tit-ted to move in the bore ot a guide-ring or annulus, D, fastened in the casing by a screw or screws, d, for example, as shown in Figs.` l and 4.

The bore of the guide-ring or aunuius D at one side'communicates with a lateral recess,

ci', in said ring or annulus, and in this recess a lifting sprin g bar or catch, E, plays laterally and moves endwise. (See Figs. l and 4.) Said spring-catch E consists preferably of a piece of spring-steel, the lower end of which isrig idly united to the tool-holder B bya screw, e,

for example, as shown in Fig. 1, while said catch, near its upper end, is providedwith a shoulder, e', which engages the edgec of the the upper and lower ends of the hammer. The

diameter of the hammer C is somewhat less than that ofthe interior ofthe casing A, so that the hammer in its reciprocations is guided wholly by and moves upon the points of the screws or guides f, whereby the friction of the hammer in its case is reduced toits minimum, and the advantages derived from the greater freedom of the blow delivered are substantial. The lower end of the hammer normally rests upon the upper end of the ring or annulns D, while the upper end of the toolholder is below said hammer, being carried away from the hammer by the spring b. VSaid hammer is held down upon the ring or annulus D by the force or power of preferably elliptic or bow springs F, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The inner ends of said springs are preferably fastened to blocks, heads, or hubs G H, the lower hub, G, having a central conical point or projection, g, to fit a corresponding recess in the upper end of the hammer C, as clearly shown in Figs. l, 3, and 5, whereby the springs may exert their force upon the hammer without producing friction to an appreciable extent. The sides of the casing are slotted for the passage of the springs F, and to permit said springs to be freely contracted and expanded of greater or less force, as desired, it being obvious that inasmuch as the screw J cannot move endwise in the cap I, said screw, when being turned by the finger-piece IC, will cause the hub H to advance or retreat, and thus regulate the power of the springs relatively to the hammer.

The operation ofthe instrument is as follows: The point of the operating-tool having been placed against the filling to be condensed or compacted in the cavity of the tooth, forward pressure is exerted upon the easing A by the operators fingers which surround it. This pressure causes the casing to move forward over the tool-holder, projecting the inner end of said holder through the guide-rin g or annulus D, and raising or holding the hammer G away from said end of the tool-holder, inasmuch as the spring-catch E of the tool-holder engages the edge c of the hammer C with its shoulder e and prevents'it from moving forward with the casing. The forward movement of the casing continues until the edge or shoulder d2, Fig. l, of the ring or annulns D is-brought against the incline e2 of the spring-catch E, which will cause said catch to be wedged or moved inward and thereby force the shoulder c thereof from under the edge c of the hammer. As soon as this tripping of the lifting catch is accomplished the hammer is forced or thrown forward by the accumulated tension or force of the springs F, and a quick, sharp, free blow is delivered upon the end of the tool-holder and through said holder to the filling operated upon. As soon as the blow is delivered the pressure of the ngers upon the casing is relieved, which permits the spring b to act, said spring throwing the ease upward or outward relatively to the tool-holder, in.or-

der to retract the end of said holder from contact w'ith the hammer, and to permit the catch E to again engage `the hammer preparatory to the next movement of the casing, which is to canse a blow to be administered uponthe lling.

l prefer to use the bow-springs F-whieh virtually, with their hubs, constitute two elliptic springs in the precise organization shownas the impelling-springs of the hammerasla. perfectly free blow can be had by theirnse; but in some instances a spiral or other form'. of spring may be employed with good effecnas shown, for example, in Fig. 5.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a hammer'to give blows upon a tool-holder, with an elliptical spring formed by uniting the ends of bow or bent springs to central blocks or hubs acting upon A said hammer.

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2. The combination, substantially as herei inbefore set forth, of a hammer to give blows upon a tool-holder, an impelling-spring acting upon said hammer to impart said blow, and

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an interposed connecting-block between said whereby the force of the blows administered by the hammer may be regulated.

4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a hammer, a spring act ing upon said hammer, a movable hub or block to vary the power of said spring, and a turningscrew working in said hub or block to move it relatively to said screw.

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5. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the casing, the bearingguides of said casing, and the reciprocatingv hammer guided and supported in said casing by the said bearing-guides, whereby the friction of the hammer in the casing is reduced.

6. The combination,substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the casing, the tool-holder, the hammer to deliver blows upon said holder, the impelling-spring of said hammer, the bearin g-guides upon which thehammer reciprocates lso as to have great freedom of reciprocation,

and the catch connected with said tool-holder and acting upon said hammer.

7. The combination, substantially as herenbefore set forth, of the casing-sections, the tool-holder fitted to move endwise in one of said sections, and provided with a longitudinal channel, and a screw passing through said casing-sections to unite them and into the channel of the tool-holder to form a guide for .said holder and prevent its rotation in the cas- 15 lng.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name thisvlth day of March, A. D. 1882.

FRANK ABBOTT.

' Witnesses:

J. ROMAINE BROWN, V. K. REYNOLDS. 

